*Music at Mocha this weekend begins early, with comedy. The Comedy of Max Baudish will be offered on Thursday (this is for anyone who buys the paper when it’s printed on Thursday and still has time to be flexible for the evening…), January 3, from 8 to 9 pm.

Then on Friday it’ll be back to music, with THE SIDE PORCH. This is a three-man blues guitar band with John Mirabito, Nick Penzetta and Brian Anderson, who plays bass. Showtime is 7:30.

Saturday night BAMBOO RED will have the floor. Guitarists Mike Johnson and Water Murphy write their own songs and music, and will be starting around 7:30. Mocha is at 3 Glen Road and remember not to panic if you see that the parking lot immediately in front of the coffee house is full – there is plenty of parking next door in the full lot behind the house that is now home to Wishing Well.

*Georgetown Saloon has a change to its music calendar this weekend: Instead of UNCLE MUSTACHE playing on January 5, The Connecticut Rhythm Section will be headlining on Saturday night instead. Showtime is 9:15 pm.

As far as I know the weekend will still open with a show tonight by ANDREA AND THE ARMENIAN RUG RIDERS.

Next weekend’s shows include SMOKEHOUSE on Friday the 11th, TRIPPY PHONICS on Saturday, and ROCK ON AMERICA – a special kids and adults jam session from 2 to 4 – followed by WILLIE NININGER at 5:30.

*On January 16 starting at 7:30, Old School Music will present a new concept in live music at the Georgetown Saloon: Female Vocal Revue. The Wednesday evening show will consist of individual performances by four professional female singers, accompanied by The Back Ups. Female Vocal Revue is the inspiration and production of Weston bassist and Old School Music’s founder Roger Kaufman. The new show will showcase the talents for highly recognized, new or deserving female vocalists, who will each perform three or four songs of their choice. The Revue will be hosted by local singer Sarah Brooks, a long time favorite with Connecticut audiences. Also performing will be Maydie Myles, Fran Southwork and Quianna Scott.

The Back Ups  Band includes arranger, writer, producer and film scorer Michael Terry (The Music Lab) on keyboards; drummer Tyger MacNeal (Jose Feliciano, Average White Band), guitarist and jingle writer Jeff Southworth (Hall and Oates), and bass player Roger Kaufman.

Showtime is 7:30 pm and the saloon’s regular menu will be available until 9:30. There will be a $10 cover charge to see the performance and a $12.50 per person food/drink minimum. Reservations are highly recommended, being that the first Female Vocal Revue was a huge success and sold out show; call 203-544-8003. Georgetown Saloon is located at 8 Main Street (junction of Routes 107 and 57) in the Georgetown section of Redding. Visit www.GeorgetownSaloon.com for additional info.

*So I’ve been told about this three-man band, ERAN TROY DANNER & THE HOT DALLAS NIGHTS, who play “driving, Texas style blues with a dash of classic rock and swing.” Martha Coville, our new education reporter here at The Bee, says they’re a great band. She’s pretty excited this week too, because ETD & Co. will be right here in Newtown this weekend.

Eran Troy Danner (lead vocals and guitars), Mark Schuyler (drums and backing vocals) and Chris Aniello (bass and backing vocals) will be at Hot Shots – not sure which one, however – on Friday, January 4. Showtime is 9:30. I’ll probably see you at that one.

The guys have a number of shows coming up in the area, so if you miss tonight’s, or, even better, if you like them enough to follow them around some, the band will be at GW Tavern in Washington Depot tomorrow night; back at 59 Bank Street in New Milford (where they just played, last weekend) on January 11, and at Circa Bistro in Waterbury on Friday, January 18. The guys have other shows on their calendar; these are just the closest ones to Newtown. To hear some music, view some photos, and get a complete listing up upcoming shows visit ETDMusic.com.

Until next week I’ll be seeing you... on the road.

Questions and comments should be sent to Shannon Hicks c/o The Newtown Bee, 5 Church Hill Road, Newtown CT 06470, or shannon@thebee.com, or call the office at 426-3141. Shows listed at clubs are for ages 21 and over unless specified.

UPCOMING SHOWS

JANUARY 4 — Eran Troy Danner & The Hot Dallas Nights at Hot Shots, Newtown; The Side Porch at Mocha Coffee House, Sandy Hook; Aaron Lewis (solo acoustic show) at Mohegan Sun Cabaret Theatre (nightly until January 6); Kid Rock at Mohegan Sun Arena, Uncasville; Andrea & The Armenian Rug Riders at Georgetown Saloon, Redding;

January 5 — Bamboo Red at Mocha Coffee House; Aaron Lewis (solo acoustic show) at Mohegan Sun Cabaret Theatre; The Connecticut Rhythm Section at Georgetown Saloon; John Cafferty & The Beaver Brown Band at Mohegan Sun’s Wolf Den, Uncasville; Eran Troy Danner & The Hot Dallas Nights at GW Tavern, Washington Depot;

January 6 — Aaron Lewis (solo acoustic show) at Mohegan Sun Cabaret Theatre; Chance Browne & Friends at Georgetown Saloon (5:30 start); Ricky Skaggs at Mohegan Sun’s Wolf Den;

January 11 — Smokehouse at Georgetown Saloon; Jeff Pitchell & Texas Flood at Mohegan Sun’s Wolf Den; Eran Troy Danner & The Hot Dallas Nights at 59 Bank Street, New Milford;

January 12 — Ozzy Osborne & Rob Zombie at Mohegan Sun Arena; Stratospheerius at Ray Kelly’s Pub, Bridgeport; Trippy Phonics at Georgetown Saloon;

January 13 — Willie Nininger at Georgetown Saloon (5:30 start); Eric Burdon and the Animals at Mohegan Sun’s Wolf Den;

January 16 — female vocal revue at Georgetown Saloon (Sarah Brooks hosting, with special guests); 

January 18 — The Quake at Georgetown Saloon; Eran Troy Danner & The Hot Dallas Nights at Circa Bistro, Waterbury;

January 19 — Shoo Fly Blues at Georgetown Saloon;

January 25 — John Cain & The Blues Busters at Georgetown Saloon;

January 26 — Bob’s Your Uncle at Georgetown Saloon;

January 31 — Keith Urban at Mohegan Sun Arena, Carrie Underwood opening (also February 1).